BU Grad, Merideth Thieneman, posing with some coworkers at one of her college internships
From witnessing the births of 25 newborn calves to fundraising and social media marketing, senior Ally Tripure has experienced a lot through college internships.
Internships give students real-world experience, professional skills and increased confidence.
Tripure, an exercise science major, completed a cattle farming internship this past summer in Sewanee, Tennessee, and is doing an internship with Girls on the Run Kentuckiana, an organization dedicated to ensuring young girls are active and healthy.
Through the farming internship, she learned about sustainable and ethical farming and small business development. At her Girls on the Run internship, Tripure helps with volunteer recruitment, social media management and fundraising.
Some skills Tripure developed through the farming internship were installing electric fences, slaughtering chickens, caring for newborn calves, feeding the animals and driving an ATV. Tripure is learning interpersonal communication skills, the use of various online platforms, organization by using Excel spreadsheets and effective communication to explain the organization’s mission in her current internship.
Tripure said students may have to learn on the fly at times and research or relearn things but the challenge is worth it.
“People are a lot more patient and forgiving than you realize,” she said. “You can mess up and continue to learn and internships are such a great way to get that real-world experience.”
Junior Eli Dalton has also experienced the benefits of two college internships. As an accounting major, Dalton completed an internship last spring with regional accounting firm MCM CPAs & Advisors, working with its assurance team. He is also completing an internship with Park Community Credit Union in the internal audit department.
Dalton said internships have allowed him to get exposure to various aspects of accounting as well as get real-world experience. He has learned Excel, auditing programs, information systems and auditing documentation. He has also learned how to interact and work well with coworkers and clients.
“Being able to get the real-world experience as opposed to just the classroom is huge and to be able to see if it’s something that you really want to do,” Dalton said. “And I find you learn the most getting to actually do it in real time, as to just sitting in the classroom.”
Dalton said he was nervous starting his first internship last spring because he was a sophomore and had not taken many accounting classes. However, he said his employers were understanding and gracious and gave him the training he needed to perform well.
“Once I got started, it was so worth it,” Dalton said.
Jacqueline McNatt, associate director of career development, encourages all students to complete at least one internship during their time at Bellarmine because most entry level jobs ask for 1-2 years of experience and internships provide students with both skills and experience.
“Internships help students gain experience in their field of interest, network with professionals in the field and discover what they like and don't like in a career and workplace,” McNatt said.
McNatt also said nearly 70% of internship supervisors offer their interns a full-time role.
The Career Development Center holds on-campus events with employers, and students can network with those employers through career fairs, meet-and-greet events and tabling throughout the fall and spring semesters.
All students also have access to Handshake, where any employer who wants to hire a Bellarmine student can post internships and jobs.
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